Sweeny Todd ramps into production...
06-13-06, 05:14 PM
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Sweeny Todd ramps into production...
...and musical-theater fans everywhere begin to tremble in fear. Or maybe it's just me.
Now I'm a huge Depp fan, and he's got incredible range. But shoehorning Depp into the Sweeney role just seems so wrong, since 1) it calls for a man who is physically intimidating (towering helps) and 2) the music (which better not be watered down, popularized or fucked up--it's only the most all-around important musical score of the 20th century) calls for a booming bass/baritone, not a wispy-voiced non-singer.
That aside, I could see Burton doing this well if he respects the original enough, and please god chooses people with adequate chops...
And by respect I don't mean he has to stick to it exactly... I was fine with the changes to Charlie & the Chocolate Factory... But if this turns into another Planet of the Apes, it's going to be a tragically missed chance of epic proportions not only in the world of horror films, but in the worlds of musical theater, literature and classical music/opera.
Tim Burton goes from Ripley to "Sweeney"
By Sheigh Crabtree and Anne Thompson
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey has decided to exchange one big-budget Tim Burton movie project for another.
Grey has sent "Believe It or Not," based on exploits of adventurer and oddities collector Robert Ripley, back into development while Stacey Snider, chief of Paramount's DreamWorks studio, is putting "Sweeney Todd" on the fast track with Burton at the helm.
DreamWorks will now need to assemble and cast that movie, which is being adapted by John Logan ("The Aviator") from the Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical. The stage production of "Sweeney Todd" just won John Doyle the Tony Award on Sunday night for best director of a musical.
Burton already is talking with actor Johnny Depp about taking the lead role in the feature film version as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount sources said.
Burton and producers Richard Zanuck, Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks had been fighting the battle of the budget bulge on "Believe," starring Jim Carrey.
But Grey refused to give the project a green light for production until the ambitious project fell into the $150 million range, co-president of production Brad Weston confirmed.
Burton, whose previous credits include "Edward Scissorhands," "Batman" and "Big Fish," already had scouted locations in China and devoted months to pre-production in London for "Believe." He is returning from London to meet with Carrey.
Grey made the decision to rework the script and visual effects sequences with the budget in mind, Weston said.
"In a world where we wanted to do more work on the script, this seemed to make more sense," he said.
"Believe" marks the second Carrey project to fall apart in recent months. He also had been slated to star in Jay Roach's "Used Guys" with Ben Stiller for 20th Century Fox.
Paramount executives insist that "Believe" will go forward in another year.
"We love this project and look forward to making it with Tim and Jim -- just later than originally planned," Paramount production president Gail Berman said.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
By Sheigh Crabtree and Anne Thompson
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey has decided to exchange one big-budget Tim Burton movie project for another.
Grey has sent "Believe It or Not," based on exploits of adventurer and oddities collector Robert Ripley, back into development while Stacey Snider, chief of Paramount's DreamWorks studio, is putting "Sweeney Todd" on the fast track with Burton at the helm.
DreamWorks will now need to assemble and cast that movie, which is being adapted by John Logan ("The Aviator") from the Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical. The stage production of "Sweeney Todd" just won John Doyle the Tony Award on Sunday night for best director of a musical.
Burton already is talking with actor Johnny Depp about taking the lead role in the feature film version as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paramount sources said.
Burton and producers Richard Zanuck, Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks had been fighting the battle of the budget bulge on "Believe," starring Jim Carrey.
But Grey refused to give the project a green light for production until the ambitious project fell into the $150 million range, co-president of production Brad Weston confirmed.
Burton, whose previous credits include "Edward Scissorhands," "Batman" and "Big Fish," already had scouted locations in China and devoted months to pre-production in London for "Believe." He is returning from London to meet with Carrey.
Grey made the decision to rework the script and visual effects sequences with the budget in mind, Weston said.
"In a world where we wanted to do more work on the script, this seemed to make more sense," he said.
"Believe" marks the second Carrey project to fall apart in recent months. He also had been slated to star in Jay Roach's "Used Guys" with Ben Stiller for 20th Century Fox.
Paramount executives insist that "Believe" will go forward in another year.
"We love this project and look forward to making it with Tim and Jim -- just later than originally planned," Paramount production president Gail Berman said.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
That aside, I could see Burton doing this well if he respects the original enough, and please god chooses people with adequate chops...
And by respect I don't mean he has to stick to it exactly... I was fine with the changes to Charlie & the Chocolate Factory... But if this turns into another Planet of the Apes, it's going to be a tragically missed chance of epic proportions not only in the world of horror films, but in the worlds of musical theater, literature and classical music/opera.
06-13-06, 05:21 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC
Posts: 17,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, Burton seems like the obvious choice to helm this. I've never heard Depp sing, but I can see him in the role, although I'd prefer someone who, like you said, is a powerful bass singer.
I hope Burton doesn't make it too gruesome, though.
I hope Burton doesn't make it too gruesome, though.
06-13-06, 05:37 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
I hope Burton doesn't make it too gruesome, though.
That said, if I had to choose familiar names I'd have gone Walken and (god help us) Streisand for Sweeney & Lovitt. These roles need superior acting & musical chops on so many levels, and I'm just not sure Burton's gonna go that direction, as opposed to handing it to popular stars who you have to water down the material for...
Last edited by adamblast; 06-13-06 at 05:44 PM.
06-13-06, 05:44 PM
#5
God, that's good.
06-13-06, 05:49 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Dashed
I dont know if it was Depp or not singing in it by watch "Crybaby" its a musical staring Depp.
I'm leaning toward the idea that the singing oughta be dubbed by others if he uses popular box-office names... Something that hasn't been done much in the modern movie musical, with good reason...
Last edited by adamblast; 06-13-06 at 05:52 PM.
06-13-06, 09:16 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
This has been rumored before, but this sounds as if it migt actually come to be. I agree that the score really needs to be presented properly, moreso than in most screen adaptations. I have no doubt that Depp has the acting chops, and may very well surprise us vocally.
And if we need some more rumors .... Playbill has reported a possible new big-screen version of Gypsy with Catherine Zyta-Jones to be directed by Rob Marshall.
And if we need some more rumors .... Playbill has reported a possible new big-screen version of Gypsy with Catherine Zyta-Jones to be directed by Rob Marshall.
06-13-06, 09:21 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC
Posts: 17,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by adamblast
Really? I'd ... make it a hard-R for blood.
06-13-06, 10:35 PM
#11
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
I'm a wimp. I just don't think Hostel ...with Songs! would be very entertaining or rewatchable.
Have I missed some piece of news where they said that the film version would be a musical? I think it would be tragic if it wasn't (I think Rent proved that the American public was still receptive to a good musical movie), but I also wouldn't put it past Hollywood to make it an film adaptation without music.
06-13-06, 11:51 PM
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Near the Great Salt Lake
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yay! "Sweeney Todd" is my favorite musical of all time, and I'm a big fan of Tim Burton. I just hope he can do the rather dark material justice without making it too graphically morbid.
06-14-06, 06:08 AM
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
One of my favorite musicals. 
I hope they film it as a movie and not a glorified stage production (e.g. Chicago).
With all these musical movies, is it only a matter of time before we see Les Miserables?
I hope they film it as a movie and not a glorified stage production (e.g. Chicago). With all these musical movies, is it only a matter of time before we see Les Miserables?
06-14-06, 10:22 AM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by talemyn
Have I missed some piece of news where they said that the film version would be a musical? I think it would be tragic if it wasn't (I think Rent proved that the American public was still receptive to a good musical movie), but I also wouldn't put it past Hollywood to make it an film adaptation without music.
No, this is definitely the Sondheim horror musical being brought to the screen. Several of the articles in the past week have mentioned it, and it has always been the version of the property Burton & Depp were considering.
06-14-06, 10:26 AM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by SunMonkey
With all these musical movies, is it only a matter of time before we see Les Miserables?
Last edited by adamblast; 06-14-06 at 10:33 AM.
06-14-06, 11:02 AM
#18
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Wasn't Sam Mendes originally slated to direct this one? He's producing it, I know, but I could've sworn that he was supposed to helm it (this is pre-Jarhead). When did Burton come aboard?
-JP
-JP
06-14-06, 11:15 AM
#19
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: The Illustrious State of Fugue
Posts: 6,255
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
Well, Burton seems like the obvious choice to helm this.
06-14-06, 04:34 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by AGuyNamedMike
I still watch my VHS of the George Hearn version quite often.
I'll reserve judgment until I see this, but I'm afraid it won't turn out good.
06-14-06, 05:58 PM
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by adamblast
No, this is definitely the Sondheim horror musical being brought to the screen. Several of the articles in the past week have mentioned it, and it has always been the version of the property Burton & Depp were considering.
I think it gives it a better chance of being successful if they keep it as a musical.And on a side, it's nice be agreeing with you on something.
06-15-06, 08:44 AM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Well this is the one show on Broadway right now that I really want to see...I dont know much about it, but it looks to be really good. I know it will happen, but cant Burton do anything without Depp? He's not right for every role. Im sorry, but Depp is as menacing as a brownie selling cookies. Oh well, we shall see.
06-15-06, 03:29 PM
#24
Banned by request
Um, sure Burton can do stuff without Depp. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman, Nightmare Before Christmas, etc. etc.
Burton is an eccentric guy. He likes to reuse people who share his eccentricities.
Burton is an eccentric guy. He likes to reuse people who share his eccentricities.
06-16-06, 08:02 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by FantasticVSDoom
Im sorry, but Depp is as menacing as a brownie selling cookies. Oh well, we shall see.